Rivers

‘Fubara Using Rivers Resources For Dev’

Published

2 years ago

July 5, 2024

The Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State, Dr. Enyiada CookeyGam has said the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, is using the State’s resources and funds to aggressively develop the people and the rural communities.
He noted that the emphasis is currently in areas where such development had eluded the people since the inception of democratic rule 25 years ago.
Speaking with newsmen in Port-Harcourt on the rumour that instead of using state funds and resources to develop the people, the Governor is using the resources to recruit hoodlums and bombers, the CTC boss said it is untrue and baseless.
CookeyGam, who debunked the rumour, said it was the opposite, and that the Governor was effectively utilising state resources to build roads in the rural areas abandoned by successive administrations to the detriment of the masses.
He explained that the Governor, apart from building roads and other infrastructural transformation in the state, also cleared huge debt of salaries and its arrears owed Rivers workers, retirees, and also promoted Civil Servants in the state.
He continued to say that the Governor has also been empowering Rivers youths, women, the less privileged in the state, among others, via skills acquisition programmes for them to be selfreliant in various fields of endeavour, noting also rhat over N4billion was released for disbursement.
“The truth is that Governor Siminalayi Fubara has never misused or tampered with state funds and material resources on meaningless jamboree. Rather, his predecessor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, used state resources and funds to donate to the northern and other states in his quest to become the running mate to the PDP Presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in order to woo the northerners and others for support, to become Vice President that failed to see the light of the day”, he said.
He stressed that the former Governor doled out a whopping sum of N500 million as part of his support to Sokoto state market inferno under the administration of Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal as Governor.
“Nyesom Wike was the one that had misused our resources to support other states, and deadly activities while Rivers people are dying of hunger, hardship, poverty and deaths.
“It is on record that for the past eight years, Rivers State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) was at N12 billion, but as of today, the amount has drastically changed from N12 billion to over N28 billion, meaning that the dispensation rough-handled our resources and funds to stupor.
“As far as we are concerned, the people’s Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, remains the political hero and leader of Rivers State.
“We need Godly leaders like Siminalayi Fubara, who stands by his word in the morning, afternoon and night. God brought him to clean the development and political mess of the Nyesom Wike – led administration in the last eight years of dictatorial governance”, he stated.
Dr.CookeyGam, a grassroots mobiliser and political gladiator in the LGA, called on the Governor’s detractors, such as the factional leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, Tony Okocha, and other Abuja-based sponsors to “desist forthwith from negative and unfounded bias and rantings against the Governor”.
He warned Okocha to “concentrate on his representation of the people well on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), where he is expected to drag viable, people-oriented development projects and programmes for those he claimed to represent.
“Since Tony Okocha became member on the Board of the NDDC, he has not been able to attract tangible development projects and programmes to the state, talkless of scholarships, grants, and other empowerment largesse to both the students and youths”.
Dr. CookeyGam warned that any attempt to distract Governor Siminalayi Fubara in his quest to build bridges of “human-faced” development for the people will be revisited.
“Enough is enough of such irrelevant, irresponsible and unjustifiable rascality. When all Rivers people are expected to join forces to work with the present government to move the state forward developmentally, Tony Okocha and his Abuja connections are busy misleading their followers on make-belief destructive politics that would do nobody any good”, he concluded.

Bethel Toby

Rivers

Group Seeks Police Support to Tackle GBV

Published

4 days ago

February 16, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Multi-Stakeholder Action Committee on the Prevention of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), a non-profit organization dedicated to combating gender-based violence in the State, recently paid a courtesy visit to the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, to seek his support and partnership for a planned sensitization programme for Police GBV Desk Officers.

The delegation was led by the Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation, Lauretta Davies Dimpka, alongside the Committee’s Coordinator, Barr. Evelyn Membere Asimiea.

Speaking during the meeting, the Coordinator explained that the committee comprises various stakeholders, including FIDA, the media, security agencies, and traditional and religious institutions.

She noted that the initiative is funded by ActionAid Nigeria with support from the Ford Foundation, with the goal of strengthening efforts to eliminate gender-based violence in Rivers State.

“We have carried out several engagements, including community advocacy programmes and the training of female cultural influencers, among other activities,” she said.

In his response, the Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, pledged his full support for the initiative and assured the committee of the Police Command’s readiness to collaborate in strengthening GBV response mechanisms across the state.

Members of the delegation also included heads of sub-committees within the group: Barr. Ere Boma (Advocacy); Dr. Mary Obisike (Response); Martha Igbiks ( Information and Awareness); and Brown Musa Afonyagha (Religious/Traditional).

Observers described the engagement as a significant step toward enhancing coordination and improving the response to gender-based violence in Rivers State.

Rivers

Youth Body Condemns Killing Of Member … Demands Immediate Suspension Of Bike Operation

Published

4 days ago

February 16, 2026

The Tide

Youths from Igwuruta Community in Rivers State have condemned the killing of the Secretary of Omuolu-Omunwei Community in Igwuruta, Mr. Nchelem Samuel Festus, describing the incident as tragic and unacceptable.

In a communiqué issued on February 12, 2026, the youth body said Mr. Festus was allegedly murdered on Tuesday February 10, 2026, by commercial motorcycle operators identified as “Aboki bike riders” within the community.

The group expressed sadness and outrage over the development, stating that the killing has heightened tension in the area and disrupted the peace for which Igwuruta has long been known.

According to the communiqué, the incident is part of what the community described as a growing wave of criminal activities, including rape, kidnapping and other violent crimes allegedly perpetrated by the same group.

The youth body said Igwuruta has historically maintained a reputation as a peaceful and hospitable community where residents and visitors carry out their daily activities without fear.

It, however, noted that recent events and what it termed as “escalating violence” have created fear among residents and necessitated urgent intervention.

The communiqué called for the immediate suspension of all motorcycle operations by the group within Igwuruta.

It also demanded the closure of scrap-dump sites in the community allegedly operated by the said individuals.

Furthermore, the youth body urged security agencies to ensure the arrest and prosecution of those involved in the killing of Mr. Festus and perpetrators of other alleged crimes in the area.

It also called on cattle herders to vacate farmlands in Igwuruta and urged herdsmen to stay away from bushes within the community with immediate effect.

While pledging to uphold the rule of law and refrain from self-help, the youth body gave security agencies a 48-hour ultimatum to act on some of its demands, particularly the suspension of motorcycle operations and closure of scrap sites.

The communiqué appealed to security agencies, local government authorities and other stakeholders to treat the matter with urgency and collaborate with the community to restore peace and ensure justice.

As at the time of filing this report, the Police has not issued any official statement about the incident.

By: King Onunwor

Rivers

NDDC, REA Seal Pact On Sustainable Electricity Expansion In N’Delta

Published

4 days ago

February 16, 2026

The Tide

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to expand access to reliable and sustainable electricity across the Niger Delta region.

The agreement, signed at the headquarters of the REA in Abuja, is intended to strengthen institutional collaboration in accelerating development in underserved communities in the region.

A statement by the Director, Corporate Affairs of the NDDC, Seledi Thompson-Wakama, said the pact underscores renewed efforts by the two federal interventionist agencies to deepen cooperation and fast-track infrastructure delivery.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Managing Director of the NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, described the MoU as a strategic step towards realising the Commission’s vision to “light up the Niger Delta” in line with national priorities on distributed energy expansion.

Ogbuku said “the agreement represents a shared institutional responsibility to deliver reliable energy solutions that will enhance livelihoods, stimulate local economies and create broader opportunities across the nine Niger Delta states.”

According to him, electricity remains a critical enabler of national development, support for job creation, healthcare delivery, education and inclusive economic growth.

He noted that the collaboration would help unlock the economic potential of rural communities while advancing broader national development objectives.

The NDDC boss added that the Commission has consistently adopted partnership-driven approaches in executing projects in the region and is prepared to support the implementation of the MoU by leveraging its community presence and infrastructure development capacity.

He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to working closely with the REA to ensure the timely and effective execution of the agreement.

The NDDC delegation at the event included the Executive Director, Projects, Dr Victor Antai; Executive Director, Corporate Services, Otunba Ifedayo Abegunde; Director, Legal Services, Mr. Victor Arenyeka; Director, Finance and Supply, Mrs. Kunemofa Asu; and Director, Liaison Office, Abuja, Mrs. Mary Nwaeke.

In his remarks, the Managing Director of the REA, Dr. Abba Abubakar Aliyu, described the MoU as a natural collaboration between two agencies with complementary mandates, reflecting a shared commitment to expanding access to sustainable electricity in rural communities.

“The Niger Delta remains central to Nigeria’s economic fortunes and must be supported by infrastructure capable of driving productivity, enterprise and improved living standards”, Aliyu said.

He adding that the partnership signals readiness to deliver stable power to communities that have long awaited reliable electricity supply.